Universal flush receptacle and plug.



T.A.C.BOTH. UNIVERSAL FLUSH RECEPTACLE A ND PLUG.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 11*. 1912.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I Si n? E 1 1 I I I 4 WITNESSES 57 'T.A.C.1B0TH. UNIVERSAL FLUSH RECEPTACLE AND PLUG. v

APPLICATION HLED SEPT- 17. 1912.

Patnted Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Y

TE STATES PATENTIQFFIQEQ;

'IONJES AUGUST CARL BOTH, orlvmraamv, MASSACHUSETTS,'ASSIGNOR TO' THEZEE ,socKE'r AND MANUFACTURING: COMPANY, '01 no-s'roiv, MAssAdHnsETTs A con- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

UNIVERSAL FLUSH,RECEPTACLE AND PLUG.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ToNJns AUGUST CARL Born, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Maiden, in the county of Middlesex and State of' Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Flush Receptacles and Plugs, of which the. following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form apart of the same, i

This. invention relates to flush receptacles, and more particularly to a universal fiush receptacle which will receive and cooperate with, any of the standard makes of plugs, and more particularly, though not necessarily, with plugsv having screw shell contacts of standard or varying diameters.

My invention further relates to a novel form ot' attachment plug to be used with the flush receptacle.

My invention further relates to certain details of construcion of both the flush receptacle and the plug which willfbe more fully hereinafter described in the specification and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of my invention and in whichthe same reference numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures,-

Figure. 1 is a perspective view of my improved universal tlush receptacle and plug. the latter being shown about to be insci-ted within the flushreceptacle;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through both the attachment plug and the universal tlush receptacle, the section of the receptacle being taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. In this figure my improved receptacle and plug are illustrated together the same as in Fig. l;

Fig. :3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2+2 of Fig. 1 illustrating my improved plug mounted within the receptacle, the latter being shown in side elevation;

Fig. lis' alougitiu'linal vertical section through my universal flush rece .)tacl e;

Fig. 5 a plan view of the insulating base of the receptacle, the housing being removed; Fig. 5 55=* of Fig. 5;

is a broken sectional detail on line Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Patented luau, 20, 1917. Application filed September 17, 1912. Serial No. 720,845. a

housing, partly broken away, also aportion of theescutcheon or. face plate showingthe manner of connecting the housing to the being shown in elevation; p v,

Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe housing shown inF1g-.6; j" Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the preferred form'of door or shield; I

Fig. 9 is a detail sectionalviewpf the plug showing one form of locking means to secure the. base of the plug and the shell against accidental relative rotation;

Fig. 10 is a face view of the plug; Fig. 11 is a. vertical section on the line l1l1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-42 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arl'OVS.

Flush receptaclesare ordinarily perma nently mounted in the walls, ceilings or escutcheon or face plate, the door or shield floors and are connected to the feed wires I with a certain. form of flush receptacles, to

receive a certain form of attachmentplug that, if other electrical consuming devices having somewhat different form or diameter ot-attachmcnt'plugs are attempted to be used, it is impossible'to use them w'ithont v first removing the plug with which-the corisuming device is equipped and connecting its wires to another plug which will cooperate with the particular form of flush receptacle with which the building equipped. The changing of these plugs usually requires the services of an electrician and entails delay and additional. and unneeessary expense. I

My flush receptacle willcoiipe'ate with attachment plugs of diflere'nt shape and diameter. by simply thrusting the plug into the receptacle without the necessity.- of rotating the plug, provided it is of theiisual screw threaded form, which rotation takes aditional time and serves to twist and snarl the wires connected to the plug with possible damage to the consuming device.

The plug is likewise removed by-a pull in the direction of; its longitudinal axis lbo without the necessity of rotating it,'though itmay be connected to my universal flush receptacle by rotating it if so desired, and disconnected in like manner.

By my invention the interior of the receptacle is provided with a door or shield which automatically closes the opening in the receptacle and guards the terminals besides serving to prevent dust or other foreign matter from getting into the receptacle and fou ing it with the consequent danger of fireby short-circuiting the current.

In the illustrative embodiment of my .invention shownin the drawing, 1 is my universal flush receptacle and 2 is the plug,

whiclrls ordinarily meant to be used with the receptacle, though the receptacle will cooperate with other plugs. a

The flush receptacle is provided with, a base 3 of some insulating material, preferably porcelain. This base 3 is provided with a central aperture 4 having a ledge 5. for a purpose to be hereinafter described. \Vithin the aperture 4.1 mount .a center contact 6, preferably formed of some yielding material, the center contact being secured in any suitable manner to the base 3 and provided with a binding screw 7 to cooperate with one ofthe feed wires 8, Fig. 5. The other vfeed wire 9. is secured to the binding post 10, Figs. 4 and 5, by means of the'bindmg screwll. This binding post 10 is provided with an angular bent portion 12 which fits over the angular portion 13 of the side contact 14, Fig. 4, the side contact and the bindin post 10 being secured to the insulatingv ase 3 by the screw 15. Vhile my device will operate simply with one such side contact 14, I preferably provide an auxiliary yielding member 16 onthe other side of the apertures 4 from that on which the side contact 14 is mounted. This auxiliary member 16 is substantially the same as the contact 14 except that one of the feed wires is not directly connected to it. It is secured to the insulating base 3 by means of the screw 17.

The spring side contact 14 serves to yieldingly engage the-plug which is thrust into the insulating basev 3. I preferably corrugate the engaging end of the contact 14, as

.* shown in the drawings, Fig. 4, so that it may more readily cooperate with aplug which rests upon the ledgefi in the insulating base 3. The housing is provided w1th two slots 25,.25, each having an enlarged portion with shoulders 26, 26 in the enlarged cylindrical portion and havingan enlarged portion with shoulders 27, 27 in the end 28 of the housing. 22, Fig. 6. The cylindrical portion 23 is preferably provided with an offset 29 or other irregularity, to insurethe housing being properly positioned within the insulating base 3. The end 28 is provided with an opening 30, for the reception of the center contact 6 which extends .up through the opening 30, Fig. 4.

Mounted within the housing 22 is a door or shield 31 which normally automatically closes the opening in the flush receptacle, protects the contacts in the receptacle and prevents dust or other foreign matter from accumulating therein, besides givinga pleasing and handsome appearance to the the same material as that of the faceplate or escutcheon 20, though, of course, it may be of different material, either form coming within the terms of my invention. For cheapness in manufacture, it is preferably stamped with integral arms 32,.32, these latter arms having reduced portions 33 and 34 and enlarged portions 35 and 36. By bending these arms back upon themselves as shown in Fig. 8, they can be readily assembled in the slots 25 ofthe housing 22. The smaller portion 33 ofthe arm will be ,received in the slot 25, Fig. 12, the enlarged portion 35 will .be received in the enlarged portion of the slot 25, taking behind the shoulders 26, 26, Fig. 1

\Vhen thedoor or shield31 is pressed in against the action of the spring 37, the enlarged portion 35 passes through the en- 'larged cylindrical portion 23 of the housing 21. The portion 35 of the arms will then simply slide upon the exteriorof the reduced cylindrical portion 22, Fig. 6. At the same time the enlarged portion 36 will'slide upon theinterior surface of thereduced portion 22 until .it reaches the bottom portion 28 of the housing when it will pass behind the shoulders 27, 27, Fig. 7, which it will be noted are, on the opposite side of the slot 25 from the shoulders 26, 26. In other words, the walls ofthe slot 25 cooperate with the reduced portions 33 and 34 of the arms, while the enlarged'portion 35 cooperates with the shoulders 26, 26, when the door or shield is in its extended position and then with the exterior surface of the reduced. por-. tion 22, Fig. 6, the enlarged portion 36 sliding upon the interior of the reduced portion 22 until the door or shield is pressed down so as to force portions of the arms bc- 130 manner. Hreferably Ipro;

wlowstheilevelofgthelendiil8 when theenlarged ,.zvplugsa of gcompanatively small diameter and ipoi tion.36mrill'pass behi; the sliouldens27; readily yielding tq ceepe fate with plugs of QfZ in tll'lendfigspy gByhtlll simple arrangethe-maximum diameter ordinarily employed, mentfill, -atminimum expense, insune. \the, besides readily :re'ceiring plugs of, diameters shield or door 31, sliding freely vithin they:between;thenaxiln ufnfland' mlnnnum,,; vhbu i-ng Q2-,avithent: binding er jamming inq ',Mereoa er,itis,innnateizial whetl1e1-Qr not 'itshousing. Qt .(iQiLI lLSQgglflJiiS to; be understood; I the plug as provided; n th, the rdmaryQscreW that :vzurious' iothen eneiuis; fion guiding the lashell; side contact provided the plug has-some door or lshieldainay be .empleyed the ne form of side contact which will j coiiperate shownvbeingsimply yl vayieflexample. H-withthe Jcontaet 1430f tlieiflusli,,receptaele. :lL h-e housing ZL WithV-itsdom eonshield is! ,l lii-r thermore,.itis immaterial what pitch the secured! t0)t118'fltee;l)klttel2ofill any suitable; screw threads {of-the shell onside;co.nta ct of I de' tihe faeeaplate;5- the plug na y; have,,;.tlie,flush receptacle rewwith an opening 38 aiportion uof the mate-l; v-ceivingvv and cooperating with? plugs having rial-being lftgto-diorm lugs'39, 39, jYhlUhalLl'f screw shells of any *pitch."

, bGllUbflCjkuLlPiOll; themselvesj amty'from thex 1 Bysrimply thrusting fin; :uplugprovided -o'pening' 38' and tapped .to greeei vingscrews 5 with the ordinary :fOl'll'l'y Tot screi i shell; iconor'other securlng members 40; the l'11gS39 betact, the annoyance-.-and"danger tofthe :con A1135:TC61V6d in tlleliQpelllngsdl 1n: ,the enw-sumlng dGV'ICB by twisting "a-l-id snarli'ng the ZOilarged cylindricalsporticin 23 of the housing .--wires co nieotedttothe Tiltigt when such-ta 5 21-, Fjgs, 6ii111 l"Z-';::P1'efg1ably I form thew plug isr-screwedwithin a-f flush receptacle, is .upper portion ofsthe housing QlfiGfisliglitlyavoided. wIt' i's,: of course; to be alnderstood, lesswdiameter than'the-diameterof the-open-q"hbwever -gthat"if desired for ahyreason a ing! 38 in tlreiface plateso as to leave an'fair plug hai 'ingla screw slrell contact can be nularl ring of; insulating material :61- sllr-flSCiGWGCl' within my -i'miaiersalflush receptacle, am ding"the open'ingv38in the faceplate the corriigationsin itheeontrct '14 and. the

When my universal flush receptacle isas- =auxiliary memberFIG cooperating f'with the 'ssemble'd'anduinounte'olwithin the walh ceih t Off @116 "p g iingfonother location", any: forna-bfi plug I preferably use with my universal fiush ;:;I1"ow;on the marlfiet' niay beg readily a-ttach-ed fr eoepta ele mydmproved attachment plugQ "-tonit by simply wg'etti'ngt lug over-the wlnchwlsvse constructel 'that it "can be made :p-lug "with suflicient pressure to overcome the current or even an. "extraordinary l resiliency of the spring 37and the resilient such as required a' lar'g'e' wacuun'rcleaner, :ic'ontac't' 1:4',-and the auXili-ary member-"-16 it "electric lieat'e'r for other consuming devicef one-be' hsed, whichis the preferrediconstrueW My plugfl comprises an insulating fcap' tion. W' 1:: 1' W emmving an enlarged o ening and prouiUpon:the-insertion' of. such p l'ug; the vided With exterior Screw threaded body l shield'rordoor-81will reedefagainst the 210- Hnemberr' 46 to directly 'coofpbrate' with the -tionrof -t'he spning;37*'until ttyreaohes the f'screi'vtlrr'eadedshell @T vthich isthe side -'lo\v'er:pQrtibn-o f the housing-21 whendtwill *c'o'nta ct army lug. i assumetthe" positiijnl shotvn in Fig-Z33; the provided Wltlljaill11tl1l'i1(l 'alllllilil l" shoul- -"center contaet" 6 passing v'upthnauglythe tler 4S'te'receive and liold'th'e insillating base v *OPGIllilg-QQIIItlIG'Sl11Bld ZOD'(lO'QT 31ftofc'01 49"w'hi'clt preferably protrudes slightly be;- v

taet'with rthe oenteroo'ntact' of the plug. yond the shoulder 48. \Vithin thi'-"-1nsu1at 'Dhemesiliency *ofthe "side contact llfle'ith'er signage 49I '"'ni1o1iiit the center tontact -50 alone fer' if .'usedwir'f'connection with the holding it to the' basein suitable mariner auxiliaryunember 16, is greater than the reas by "means of the screw 51." "The Seeme- Siliellc) P I l he PhIg "Contactisprovidedwith bindin sc'rew 52 wi lll'ibe i'ethiirfed within the fflus'h reeeptaole to receive one of the wires 53, the Ethelwire until such time as it'is given a p'ull ivlien it '54 cooperatingwith the 'tindin e- 55 will immediately becoi'ue' -i 'disenga ged, the which is ic'zff-ried by theplate 5 6". "lhisplate hurts then assuming the Position shown in, S'G"contacts with the inturned'shouldel 48 of il l hl i thedoer orsh iel d z uto- I the Screw @hell and .ib .1;eferably ,;:pro-. nlatmally lzlosnrg: the openinginthejrece lded with some meanstopreventrelative tacle. To permit the free passage of thedoor motement between it and the insulating base or shield 31, I preferably out it away at 43, 49. For example, I provide the plate with 43 to permit it to readily pass the spring the enlargements 63 63 fitting into the reeontact ltand the auxiliary member 16. cesscs 64 64 in the insulating base 419,- Fig. 11. I It is obvious theretore that plugs of stand- I provlde some form of locking means to a rd diameter, or of a (llameter somewhat secure the screw shell and insulating base togreater or less tllan standard, will be readily gether to prevent their relative accidental received within my universal flush receprotation. ()ne such locking means, to which tacle, thesprmg side contact 14 and the auxmy 1nvention is not to be confined, is to proillary member 16 readily contacting wlth vlde the plate 56 with a detent or, finger 57 providing the insu ating base 49 with a lug 66 to be received in the recess 67 in the memher 46, Fig. 9.

In my improved plug, I provide relatively a very large opening 45 so as to enable a. large knot to be tied in the wires and one which will not pull out of the opening 60 in the cap 44. This large knot 59 serves as a' strain relief and transmits all strain upon the wires 53 and 54 to the cap 44, thereby rotecting the electrical connections with the bindingscrews 52 and 55.

In my improved plug the electrical connections are mounted on the separable insulating base 49, where the connections can be .readily made with the minimum expense of time and labor by disassociating the base from the cap 44 and shell 47 and then, after the connections have been made and a large knot formed as a strain relief, the base 49, cap 44 and shell 47 can be immediately connected together by simply screwing the shell 47 to the cap.

This structure permits me to make a very short or shallow attachment plug of midget size and yet one which will carry large'eurrents. Such a diminutive plug when mounted in the receptacle 1 is hardly noticeable and never obtrusive. This feature also insures that the plug will not be hit or knocked accidentally by doors, furniture, or other objects in the building.

Having thus described this invention in connection with the several illustrative embodiments thereof to the details of which I do not desire to be limited, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended lainis:

1. An article of manufacture for a flush receptacle comprising a door or shield provided with integral arms, each arm having two reduced portions and two enlarged portions.

2. In a universal flush receptacle, the combination of a base, and electrical connections carried by the base adapted to receive andcooperate with screw threaded plugs of diflerent diameters or screw threads of different pitch, and a screw threaded plug cooperate with the electrical connections in the receptacle.

3. In a flush receptacle, the combinat on of a base provided with an opening. and with a yielding electrical side contact and a center contact, a housing, and a sliding door or shield mounted in the housing.

4. 111a flush receptacle, the combination of av base provided with an opening and with a yielding electrical side contact, a face plate, a housing, means to secure the housing to the face plate, a door or shield mounted in the housing, and means to normally cause the door or shield to close the opening in the housing.

5. In a flush receptacle, the combination of a base provided with an opening and with a yielding electrical side contact, a face plate, an insulating housing, means to secure the housing to the face plate, a sliding door or shield mounted in the housing, and means to normally cause the door or shield to 'close the opening in the insulating housing.

6. In a flush receptacle, the combination of a hollow insulating base provided with a center contact and with a yielding side contact extending into the hollow portion of the base, ahousing having guide slots for a. sliding door or shield, an opening for the yielding side contact, and center contact, respectively, a door or shield mounted in the housing, and resilient means normally operating the door in one direction.

7. In a flush receptacle, the combination of a hollow insulating base provided with a center contact and with a yielding side contact and an auxiliary yielding member extending into the hollow portion of the base, a housing having guide slots for a sliding door or shield, an opening for the yielding side contact and the auxiliary yielding member and center contact, respectively, a door or shield mounted in the housing, and resilient means normally operating the door in one direction.

TONJ ES AUGUST CARL BOTH. lVitnesses:

Josurn KEEFE, \V. M. PARKER.

(topic: 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Oommluloner of Patenti,

Washington. D. 0." l 

